Multimedia:

Frederic Tuten reads from his book of inter-related short stories, Self Portraits: Fictions, followed by an interview with the poet and distinguished cultural critic, Wayne Koestenbaum. The conversation focuses on the connection of the innovative writer to contemporary art practice and the place of art in Tuten’s work, with consideration to his long relationship with the art world, starting with his studying Mexican Mural painting in the 1950’s and through to his involvement with today’s most daring young artists.

This is Tuten's final book appearance and the last chance to hear him live. Copies of Self Portraits: Fictions are available for purchase and signing at the event.

Frederic Tuten is the author of five novels: The Adventures of Mao on the Long March; Tallien: A Brief Romance; Tintin in the New World; Van Gogh’s Bad Café; and most recently, The Green Hour. His short fictions have appeared in many literary magazines, including Conjunctions, Fence, and Granta. He has published essays and interviews on R.B. Kitaj, David Salle, Roy Litchtenstein, Eric Fischl, John Baldessari and Ross Bleckner. His short story, “Self Portrait with Icebergs,” was commissioned for the catalogue of Pierre Huyghe’s exhibition, “Celebration Park,” at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris. Most recently, he published a short story, “L’Odyssee,” for the Jeff Koons’ “Popeye Series” exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London. He has written on art, film and literature for such publications as Art Forum, Art in America, The New York Times, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. He did the adaptation and dialogue for the feature film, Possession. Dr. Tuten earned his Ph.D. from New York University in British and American Literature, and has taught at The City College of New York, where he is Professor Emeritus, and at The University of Paris 8. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Writing and was given the Award for Distinguished Writing from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Wayne Koestenbaum has published five books of poetry: Best-Selling Jewish Porn Films, Model Homes, The Milk of Inquiry, Rhapsodies of a Repeat Offender, and Ode to Anna Moffo and Other Poems. He has also published a novel, Moira Orfei in Aigues-Mortes, and five books of nonfiction: Andy Warhol, Cleavage, Jackie Under My Skin, The Queen’s Throat (a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist), and Double Talk. His newest book, Hotel Theory, is a hybrid of fiction and nonfiction. He is a Distinguished Professor of English at the CUNY Graduate Center, and also a Visiting Professor in the painting department of the Yale School of Art.